Godhead (or godhood) refers to the essence or substance (ousia) of God in Christianity — God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.[1] [2]
John Wycliffe introduced the term English, Middle (1100-1500);: godhede into English Bible versions in two places, and, though somewhat archaic, the term survives in modern English because of its use in three places of the Tyndale New Testament (1525), the Geneva Bible (1560/1599), and King James Version (1611). In that translation, the word was used to translate three different Koine Greek words:[3]
| Verse | Greek | Romanization | Type | Translation | Vulgate 405 | Wycliffe 1395 | Tyndale 1525 | ESV 2001 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acts 17:29 | Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: θεῖον | [4] | adjective | "divine, godly" | Latin: divinum | English, Middle (1100-1500);: that godli thing | English: godhed | the divine being | |
| Romans 1:20 | Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: θειότης | [5] | noun | "divinity, divine nature" | Latin: divinitas | English, Middle (1100-1500);: godhed | English: godhed | divine nature | |
| Colossians 2:9 | Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: θεότης | [6] | noun | "deity" | Latin: divinitas | English, Middle (1100-1500);: the Godhed | English: the godheed | deity |